ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Fixed expression

A fixed expression is when grown-ups use the same words or phrase over and over again to say something. It's like a special code they use to convey a specific message. For example, when someone says "it's raining cats and dogs," they don't actually mean that there are animals falling from the sky. They mean that it's raining heavily. It's like having your own secret language that everyone understands.